Cowboys Roster: Strategies & Players At Cornerback

In the last couple of weeks we have looked at various strategies and players for each position. We looked at both free agents and draft prospects that could fill needs. This week, we will look at defensive backs. This article will focus on the corners, and the next part of for the safeties will be out tomorrow.

Let’s first look at the state of the corner position for the Cowboys.

Morris Claiborne will be gone, Brandon Carr will most likely restructure his contract, and Byron Jones will move to safety unless another safety (Jalen Ramsey anyone?) is drafted. The Cowboys had two practice squad players they moved up to add depth at the end of last year: Terrance Mitchell and Deji Olatoye. At least one of them will make the team and the Cowboys will hope to upgrade one position. The Cowboys will get Orlando Scandrick back, so that will help and that will leave the Cowboys needing a starting corner and one backup corner.

So with that in mind, here are some possible free agents (under 30 years old) the Cowboys could bring in.

Sean Smith (Chiefs)Good playing man coverage. Physical and aggressive. However, at 28, he is on the backside of his career. He would provide a starter for the Cowboys but he will command a big price tag.

Prince Amukamara (Giants)Has been a disappointment for the Giants. Often injured, he was finally having a solid year. He is the Giants version of Morris Claiborne. He would add a nice solid piece at a reasonable price.

Jerraud Powers (Cardinals)Starter for the Cardinals. He does not get a lot of picks but he is a solid corner with playmaking ability. For the Cowboys, he would be a starter.

Nolan Carroll (Eagles)Nolan is a good sized corner. He would give the Cowboys depth and would be a starting corner only when needed. He is likely to be affordable.

Patrick Robinson (Chargers)Would be a slot corner and would add insurance if Scandrick is not ready.

Josh Robinson (Vikings)A disappointment in Minnesota, but he has a lot of speed and talent. The Cowboys could take a chance on him at a low price. He would add depth and athleticism but it will not cost a lot.

Trumaine Johnson (Rams)First few years were shaky, but a solid option now. Good size and physical. A great pick up for the Cowboys if the tag is not too high.

Janoris Jenkins (Rams)Best corner on the market in my book. A great man to man player and he creates turnovers. If the Cowboys can get him, he would be a steal.

Josh Norman (Panthers)Forgetaboutit. The Panthers will place the franchise tag on him.

Coty Sensabaugh (Titans)A very good option to play slot. If he is signed, Scandrick can remain on the outside full time.

Jayron Hosley (Giants)A slot corner that would add depth.

Jamell Fleming (Chiefs)Would add depth and special teams play.

Now let’s look at the prospects in this year’s draft.

Before we do, here are a few attributes that we will use to evaluate corner prospects.

Fluidity – Can you turn and run. Can you drive out of your pedal?

Size – The bigger the better as long as they are fluid.

Speed – The faster the better. Make up speed.

Quickness – Do you have the lateral movement?

Functional Strength - Can you jam and can you use your body on a receiver?

Ball Skills – Can you high point, catch, and defend?

Recognition – Do you see and anticipate route patterns?

Playmaker – Do you cause turnovers, blitz, and strip balls?

Aggressiveness – Are you physical and have attitude?

Tackling - Will you hit someone?

With those out the way, let’s get into the actual prospects.

Vernon Hargreaves (Florida)

Strengths

Great hips, fluid, can adjust and drive

Athletic, should have good numbers at the combine

Can play off coverage and drive on a route

Is a good and willing tackler. Sets edge or will shoot flat to make tackles

Is always thinking turnover. Aggressive jumping routes and trying to strip the ball

Is good in man coverage mirroring receiver/route

Can change direction and drive down on receiver and make a sure tackle. Physical.

Good ball skills; a playmaker

Would be a good returner. Good runner with ball in his hands

Plays with aggression.

Can be physical with his hands.

Reads route combinations well

Weaknesses

Short, can be beat by bigger receivers

Can play too aggressive and get beat by double move

Can take too aggressive of an angle when coming up to stop run

Summary

Good against pass and run

Can play off coverage and man

Will make plays, but will give them up to bigger receivers

I think the Cowboys front office will love him because he is the type of corner that can play their scheme. Will tackle, cover flat, jump routes, but can also man up when needed

** I have him rated as a top 10 player

Mackensie Alexander (Clemson)

Strengths

Quick footed

Has nice hips and can change direction with fluidity

Will drive hard on routes

Has skills to cover in man

Will come up and help make a tackle

Plays with an attitude. Not afraid to fail. Will go toe to toe with receivers

Reads routes well

Good technique

Will play best receiver and likes the challenge

Weaknesses

Shorter, so could struggle against larger receivers

Did not have any interceptions. Needs to find a way to be a playmaker.

Not a great tackler

Did not play much zone or off coverage.

Summary

Quick footed, he can stay with receiver and recover if initially beat.

Will have to learn zone concepts.

Will need to get stronger

Will need to create more turnovers in the pros.

He is a good corner, but I am not sure he would be the type of corner that fits the Boy’s scheme.

** I have him rated as a top 20-25 player

Artie Burns (Miami)

Strengths

Good size for corner.

Fast, can cover a lot of ground quickly

Nice acceleration

Not as fluid as top corners, but athletic and shows good balance and change of direction

Aggressive and is a ball hawk

Played corner and safety. Could make a good free safety

Willing tackler, can take on blocker and set edge

Good hands, looks like a receiver attacking ball

Is good in press coverage

Weaknesses

Needs to work on techniques.

Hips are tighter than top 4 corners

Needs better route recognition

Needs to play better off coverage and zone

Needs to play through traffic better

Summary

Is as athletic as any corner in the draft

Rawer than other corners, he needs work on techniques.

Has great upside, but may take a couple of years before he figures it all out

Can play press immediately

He could play well as an outside press corner for the Cowboys. He would be a starter.

Competitive, goes at receivers. Aggressive nature you want in a corner.

Weaknesses

Needs to work on techniques. Both run and pass

Doesn’t square up when tackling

Needs to be better in press coverage.

Got confused on a couple of bunch sets (to be fair, not sure which corner was a fault)

Can open his hips and as a result he struggles against possession type of receivers who run good routes.

Summary

His 40 and three cone times will be important. He has the size and fluidity (more fluid than Jackson), but needs to show he can run as well.

Good ball skills and will defend the run

He will get better. It make take a few years before he reaches his potential.

The Cowboys will like him. He tackles well, can play zone, off coverage, and can play press man. High upside, but it may take a few years.

** I have him rated as a top 40 player, but that assumes he runs a 40 somewhere near 4.5 to 4.55

William Jackson III, CB (Houston)

Strengths

Good size for corner. Looks like a safety playing corner

Physical with his hands and at the catch point

Creates turnovers. Gets picks and strips ball.

A hitter at the corner. Will bring some pop

Good hands, will make plays on balls thrown his way

Played a lot of zone and off coverage

Will play run support

Strong punch on jams

Recognizes routes and anticipates patterns

Weaknesses

Is not a shutdown corner when playing man coverage. Can get beat on a first move, but he is aggressive and will make up space. Plays tight and aggressive, but can give the QB a window before he recovers

Will struggle against quicker receivers

While he has pop, he does not have great tackling technique. Is not square and will miss when lunging

Takes aggressive angles

Summary

Not sure about his top end speed. His combine scores will be important. Needs a good 40 time. If he runs in the 4.5 range, then he will a low second round pick. If he runs over a 4.6, he will be more of a bottom of the third round pick

Maybe the most aggressive corner in the draft and one of the biggest

He is a risk reward type of player. He will cause fumbles and make interceptions, but he is also susceptible to getting beat deep

The Cowboys will like him. He tackles well, can play zone, off coverage, and can play press man. With a safety overtop he is at his best. He reminds me of a younger Carr.

I have him rated as a top 50 player, but that assumes he runs a 40 somewhere under 4.6

Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech)

Strengths

Understands the position, natural instincts

Good technique

Athletic and quick

Can play press coverage. Can mirror routes

Fluid hips and movement

Shows good route recognition

Good using hands and has a nice body lean on receiver

Can tackle

Is best in off coverage reacting to QB.

Takes goo angles

Weaknesses

Gives up too many completions

Gets beat regularly on double moves

Struggles against taller receivers. Can’t defend the jump ball well.

Isn’t great making play on ball

Summary

I do not like him as much as other player evaluators do

He makes plays from time to time, but in the games I saw he gave up completions roughly 65% of the time.

Is not great against run either

Is best in off coverage reacting to QB and routes developing in front of him

I am not sure he fits the Cowboys model for corner.

** I have him rated as a top 75 player

Will Redmond (Miss St)

Strengths

Good hips, nice pedal and drive.

Will drive and make tackle on flat or runner

Technically and fundamentally sound

Can make play on ball

Quick recovery

Never gives up, he will chase runners down from across field

Decent recognition skills

Will deliver hit on receiver in flat

Can mirror

Has grit. Good guy to have on team

Weaknesses

Inconsistent

Willing tackler but misses too many tackles. Does not consistently wrap up and at times lunges for big hit and misses

Gives up the inside too much

Needs to make the big play. Doesn’t necessarily finish the play well. Needs more picks

Summary

He will be a consistent starter, though it may not be day one

Needs to get consistency in tackling and in finishing plays. Too often is in the right position but doesn’t finish.

Good but probably not great. Lower ceiling than other corners.

He could be a contributor for Cowboys, but not ready to start.

** I have him rated as a top 80 player

Maurice Canady (Virginia)

Strengths

Good size, athleticism, and coordination

Aggressive, will support run and pass

Good speed to carry receiver up field but strong enough to be physical too

Good punt returner. Can be gunner

Will make play on the ball

Will strip ball from runner

Solid tackler

Pretty good angles

Good with ball in air

Competitive

Weaknesses

Needs to have better awareness and recognition on routes

Poor footwork at times

Would have like to have seen more interceptions

Receivers can get separation on initial move, he can recover, but there is a window for QB

Needs to use hands better on jam

Summary

Needs to work on technique and footwork

Good solid player, not flashy but solid all around

He has the attitude to be a corner and special teams player too

He will be a starter in a couple of years

For Cowboys, he would be a contributor at corner and a special teams guru

** I have him rated right around a top 90 player

Cyrus Jones (Alabama)

Strengths

A play maker. He just makes big plays

Very good runner/returner with ball in his hand

Smart, anticipates routes

Quick, stout, a good athlete

Competitive with fighter mentality

Could probably cover slot and outside

Weaknesses

Not a very good or willing tackler

Is short

Can be overly aggressive and get beat deep

Summary

Will provide depth as corner both in slot and outside and he will be a special teams player

He has the attitude, intelligence and athleticism to start in NFL given time

He would add depth at corner for boy and he would be their punt returner

I have him rated around as a top 100 player

DJ White (Georgia Tech)

Strengths

Quick and fast

Has all the tools of a cover corner

Good tackler

Has great engine

Quick feet, not a lot of wasted motion

Can play slot or outside receiver

Will high point ball

Compact and physical

Understands zone concepts

Weaknesses

Shorter than you would like

Needs to show he can be consistent play after play

Needs to show he can carry a bigger receiver

Summary

Can be good player, but may have limited upside

Has the skills, but he needs to learn the techniques

He could be a contributor for Cowboys, but not ready to start. Would provide depth at slot and outside

** I have him rated as a 100 player

Rashard Robinson (LSU)

Strengths

Tall, rangy

Has the right attitude to play corner

Competitive

Can play off coverage and press

Long arms and good vertical

Will fight receiver for ball. Strong in the air

Versatile, can play free safety too

Weaknesses

Gives up too many completions

Susceptible to comebacks

Has hard time turning, then stopping and driving back to ball

Not much of a tackler

Skinny, will be a risk for injury

Summary

Needs to work on back pedal

Needs to get stronger

May need to move to free safety in the pros, unless he can work on hips

For Cowboys, he would be depth at free safety and corner

I have him rated at the edge of a top 100 player

Zach Sanchez (OU)

Strengths

Great ball skills

Will jump routes and take chances to create picks

Will fight receivers for ball

Can jump. Expect good vertical numbers at combine

Willing tackler, tries to hit hard

Can cover the flat

Weaknesses

Undersized, both in height and weight. Worry about injury

Terrible playing off coverage. Just gives up the inside

While a willing tackler, is not a good tackler because of his size

While he will battle receivers, he struggles against bigger bodied receivers

Just average speed. Quicker than fast. So he bails on may coverages and gives up the underneath

Needs to work on footwork, decent pedal but then he waste steps turning or driving

Summary

I think he would be effective as a slot corner

He needs to add size and strength

Needs to work on footwork

He could be a contributor for Cowboys, but not ready to start. Could add depth at slot corner. I think he has the attitude to be a special teams player too

I have him rated on the edge of the top 100

Eric Murray (Minnesota)

Strengths

Good feet

Aware

Good technique and discipline

Good tackling technique

Recognizes patterns and know what he is supposed to do

Good change of direction

Polished and smooth

Competitive and a leader

Weaknesses

Shorter than you would like

Can miss tackles on the edge

Will be beat in the air

Not elite speed or quickness

Needs to create more turnovers

Summary

Will provide depth as corner and be a special teams player

Will be good at all things, but not great at any

Can be an eventual starter but must tackle better and be consistent

Could cover slot too. Need to verify quickness and speed at combine.

He would add depth but not ready to start. Would be a special team player

** I have him rated on the edge of the top 100

Xavien Howard (Baylor)

Strengths

Good size and strength

Good strength/balance ratio

Uses body on receiver, physical

Will use hands effectively

Will drive on underneath route.

Can tackle and will set edge on runner

Man press coverage

Will cut of routes

Will get interceptions

Weaknesses

Terrible looking for ball. Loses receiver

Not terribly great making a play on ball

Struggles against shifty receivers

Not good in the air

Needs to learn to play zone and off coverage

Summary

Will provide depth as corner and be a special teams player

Can be an eventual starter if he learns to play the ball in the air

He could be a contributor for Cowboys, but not ready to start

** I have him rated as a top 120 player

Deiondre' Hall (Northern Iowa)

Strengths

Tall, rangy

Can make play on ball

Versatile

A decent athlete. Coordinated for his length

A leader. Will communicate

Goes low to tackle. Will to get into mix

Special teams skills

Will get picks when he has chance

Weaknesses

Gives up too many completions.

Back pedals too much, turns hips too soon

While a willing tackler, he is not necessarily physical

Needs to come up quicker against the run

Summary

Will provide depth as corner, free safety, and special teams player

He needs to play off coverage. He also needs to work on his pedal so he doesn’t need to bail

Will add strength. Will probably find a home as a free safety

He could be a contributor for Cowboys, but not ready to start.

** I have him rated as a top 120 player

Strategies for Cornerback

If the Cowboys like Hargreaves or Ramsey, I do not believe it will be a stretch for them to draft either of them at #4. I do think they could move back to 11 or 12 and still have a shot at Ramsey or Hargreaves (whoever they have higher and is still left). Both are game changers and would make the Cowboys a better team next year.

However, if the Cowboys decide they need to address Defensive End or Linebacker with the first pick, there will still be some great options available to them.

Apple, Burns, and Jackson would all be good picks in the second round. The Cowboys could trade down in the first, pick up a second and a third rounder, and look at these three corners with one of the second round picks. If they decide to wait until the third or fourth round then there are good options available there as well. Redmond, Canady, Jones, or White would be good picks in the third, and the fourth you could pick up corners who add depth with Sanchez, Murray or Howard.

I expect that the Cowboys will add one corner through the draft and one through free agency. If they go out and get a starter in free agency (Smith, Amukamara, Powers, Johnson (Rams), Jenkins (Rams)), then I expect them to draft a corner for depth in the third or fourth round. If they do not sign a starter, then expect them to go after a corner in the first or second round, and then sign a free agent for depth.

If the Cowboys do not sign either the top corner or DE in free agency, expect for them trade down and accumulate picks. They must get a starting corner, MIKE, DE and running back in free agency or through the draft. So look for what they do in free agency to help determine if they draft early or trade down.

My personal opinion is that there are good players in this draft. It is a deep top-75. The Cowboys should trade out of their first and possibly second round picks to accumulate at least three more second and third round picks. i.e., Trade down from 4 to 12-15 for a second and third, and trade back their second to 40-42 for a third. That would give the Cowboys a first, two seconds, and three thirds.

In addition, the Cowboys will have an early fourth. That would give the Cowboys seven of the top hundred(ish) picks and would go a long way to filling many of their pressing needs. In this scenario the Cowboys would probably pick either a first or second rounder on the corner position and possibly a fourth rounder as well.

Next week, we will start with running backs and receivers, but look for the safeties segment of the defensive backs here tomorrow.

Tommy Simon is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker and sports enthusiast. He is currently CEO of TechBAA, an investor and board member of TPC Technical and CommunitesFIrst, and acting CFO for ALS Communities. In addition to investing and advising companies, Tommy is also a Sales Management coach and is working with companies as a Fractional CMO/CSO.
Tommy is a life long football player, coach and Cowboy fan. He currently coaches and sponsors several 7 on 7 teams. He manages/coaches an adult flag football team that is the top team in Florida one of the highest ranked teams in the country.
Tommy's hobbies include international travel, fantasy football, reading, and engaging in intelligent political discourse. He is married to a wonderful women for 18 years; which is the best thing he has ever accomplished. He has a dog that is the best dog ever. He also has 9 siblings and roughly 30 nieces and nephews.
For more information about tommy, or to request him to speak, please contact him at info@techbaa.com

Though Promising, We Need To Relax About Safety Kavon Frazier

With the addition of former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard to the Cowboys' defensive coaching staff, fans are hoping that Dallas will create their own "Legion of Boom." Of course this is a lofty goal, but one worth pursuing nonetheless.

If the Cowboys are to recreate the Legion of Boom they will need their version of two vital pieces: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

The Seahawks defense works, in many ways, because of these two players. Thomas' ability to play centerfield and literally defend sideline to sideline gives the Seahawks the freedom to use Chancellor where he's best, as a box safety. Chancellor is a big, physical safety who defends the run effectively in the box and can blanket tight ends in man coverage with his size and athleticism.

These safeties are arguably the most critical pieces to the Legion of Boom, though having a shutdown corner in Richard Sherman certainly doesn't hurt.

Realizing Chancellor's importance, Cowboys fans are hoping that current safety Kavon Frazier can fulfill this role in Dallas. Since being drafted by the Cowboys in 2016 Frazier has made his home on Special Teams. As an impressive tackler in both punt and kick coverage, Frazier earned himself time at safety down the stretch of the 2017 season.

S Kavon Frazier

All in all, Frazier played rather well. Against the Washington Redskins he stepped in and made a few splash plays at the line of scrimmage, causing Cowboys Nation to lose their minds. After that impressive Thursday night game, however, Kavon Frazier didn't really reach that same level of performance.

Frazier is still a liability when asked to cover, especially when asked to play as a two deep safety. He also struggles when taking angles at times, though playing downhill as a tackler is his best attribute. Frazier actually reminds me a bit of Barry Church, though over time Church became more refined in coverage than Frazier currently is.

Some have argued that Kavon Frazier's presence should stop the Cowboys from considering a first round safety. I would disagree, and actually believe that if Florida State's Derwin James is available, the Cowboys should consider making that pick.

If you could combine the athleticism and coverage abilities of Byron Jones with the physicality and "box safety" qualities of Kavon Frazier, you'd have a fantastic safety. Unfortunately, this isn't the Marvel Universe and we are left without any super heroes in the back-end.

Hopefully Kris Richard will figure out how to correctly place all of these pieces in the Dallas Cowboys secondary going forward.

Maverick Carter: LeBron James Considered Cowboys During NBA Lockout

Maverick Carter is a pretty important man in the world of sports. As a business man, entrepreneur, and manager of one of the best basketball players of all time in LeBron James, Maverick Carter is certainly used to making headlines.

This week, while on former NFL running back Arian Foster's podcast "Now What? with Arian Foster," Carter claimed that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones once attempted to negotiate a contract with LeBron James.

During the 2011 NBA lockout, Carter claims that Jones contacted LeBron James and discussed bringing him in as a Cowboy while the NBA was without games.

"Jerry Jones, being the smart marketer he is...one day out of the clear blue sky LeBron got a contract I think it was for like one year, a couple million bucks to play for the Dallas Cowboys." - Maverick Carter.

Carter then states that LeBron may have the paperwork framed in his house to remember these discussions with Jerry Jones. LeBron's fandom for the Cowboys has been well documented, as has been his high school football prowess.

We may never know how "real" these discussions were, and of course it is long over now, but just imagining LeBron James getting a chance to play for the Dallas Cowboys would break the internet.

Cowboys Will Tag DeMarcus Lawrence; What’s the Plan?

February 20 is an important day for NFL clubs this year. Why? It's the first day in which teams can franchise tag any player. Since 2015, when the Dallas Cowboys tagged Dez Bryant before they were able to work out a long-term deal, Jerry Jones & Co. haven't used the franchise tag. In 2018, though, that will change.

DeMarcus Lawrence just played his best season yet in 2017, and he's looking to get paid big time. Through three years, he had been able to rack up nine sacks, 52 tackles and three forced fumbles. In just 2017, he sacked opposing quarterbacks 14.5 times, had 35 tackles and managed to force four fumbles.

Not only did Lawrence look like an elite pass rusher, but he also improved as a run defender a lot. The Cowboys have been looking for a "War Daddy" for a long, long time and Lawrence seems to be the answer for this football team.

After such a big year, one would expect the Cowboys to sign him to a multi-year enormous contract. But there's a catch. Lawrence failed to remain healthy early in his career and really didn't make as much of an impact until last season.

There's no question that D-Law will be wearing a star come the 2018 NFL season, but will he be doing it under a long-term deal or under a franchise tag?

Cowboys will not place franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence tomorrow as that window opens but will do so by March 6 w/ understanding the goal is to reach a long-term deal. Both sides have until July 16 to make that happen.

For now, according to David Moore from Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys will franchise tag Lawrence with the objective of getting a deal done in July. The tag however, is not expected to be placed as soon as possible.

In 2015, the Cowboys didn't place the franchise tag on Dez Bryant until the final deadline day. This year's deadline is March 6th, so it may be two weeks before they make it official with DeMarcus Lawrence. #CowboysNation #DallasCowboys

What would franchise tagging DeMarcus Lawrence mean for this team?

First of all, they'd make sure he doesn't hit free agency in March. This gives the front office time to get to work and restructure players' contracts if they have to in order to open up as much cap space as they can before giving him a deal.

It's worth mentioning as well, cap savings from players who are designated as post-June 1 cuts will already be available. If you want to be more familiarized with the Cowboys' cap situation, I highly recommend you read John Williams' deep dive on the matter.

It'll continue to be a very interesting story for this offseason, as handing a franchise tag to a player tends to become a non-friendly situation for both parties. Let's hope that's not the case for the Cowboys and Lawrence this year and that everything works out fine.

Here at Inside The Star, we'll continue updating you and the rest of Cowboys Nation throughout the offseason.

Tell me what you think about "Cowboys Will Tag DeMarcus Lawrence; What’s the Plan?" in the comments below, or tweet me @PepoR99 and let’s talk football! If you like football and are looking for a Dallas Cowboys show in Spanish, don’t miss my weekly Facebook Live! show, Primero Cowboys!